Qin Zhen

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Qin Zhen ("QZ") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

QZ : Yes, I made up my mind to be a designer when I was a kid. From junior high school to graduate school, I have been receiving art education in art academy, which has a profound impact on my later design.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

QZ : Design excites me.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

QZ : I chose to become a designer, never change.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

QZ : I do service design, and I hope to try some innovative projects and design that can make the society more convenient and people live comfortably.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

QZ : This question might require asking Dieter Rams...

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

QZ : Ummmm, this is such a big problem that I can't explain it all in a moment, but on the other hand, the designers who are in need of the society now are not just drawing pictures or making some ingenious products, but should have a certain sense of time and social responsibility. In the future, everyone will be a designer, and everyone will be able to come up with solutions to small or complex problems. By then, designers will have a long way to go.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

QZ : Human centre

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

QZ : Good design has aesthetic quality, sustainability, and truly grasp the need to design.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

QZ : Design for social problems, perhaps for poor people who don't have houses, people who don't have access to resources because of environmental pollution

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

QZ : One project I haven't had time to work on is about designing and sharing platforms for environmental resources. I hope this platform can provide references and innovative ideas for people who want to solve some environmental protection problems with design. I hope people who are interested in environmental protection or design can learn useful knowledge and communicate with each other on this platform.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

QZ : My secret is to always think from the perspective of the user. What is the real design for the user?

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

QZ : The great designers of the Bauhaus era still have a great influence on me today

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

QZ : Sorry, I didn't think about it.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

QZ : Sorry, I didn't think about it.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

QZ : Read more books and exhibitions, and visit more interest workshops and Tours to experience different life.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

QZ : Maybe I'll be a teacher...

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

QZ : For me, design is a new solution to the multi-stakeholder idea. Design has been integrated into my life.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

QZ : Standing on the shoulders of giants.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

QZ : I have a great team.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

QZ : Should be the lack of knowledge, feel that there are too many things to learn, and so it is now.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

QZ : It takes some skill to show your design to others. Think about how we can express ourselves to make others understand better. Do you need any tools? Is this visual content intuitive and clear? Sometimes it's role-playing, sometimes it's just a few diagrams.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

QZ : An open platform on circular economy, using the vision of service design to let people learn and participate in it. Please look forward to it

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

QZ : Improve our life.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

QZ : Maybe want more? I have no idea.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

QZ : Design responsibly.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

QZ : An open platform on circular economy, using the vision of service design to let people learn and participate in it.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

QZ : Usaaan. Since this is a very important turning point for me, I have been engaged in brand design and product design before. After usaaan, I will try my best to enter another stage of design, providing customers with complete solutions, and commercial sense and design innovation coexist.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

QZ : More diverse intersections and cooperation among countries will make the future a world of great harmony, where designers link up and work with ordinary people and other experts to solve issues of relevance to The Times.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

QZ : Solve more complex social problems.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

QZ : Depending on how complete the design is, it can take anywhere from three months to two years.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

QZ : From 0 to 1, it's too challenging.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

QZ : Don’t design for designer, design for people.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

QZ : They are interacting.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

QZ : Technology is an important means of design and realization.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

QZ : Mac book, AI, PS.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

QZ : Color, material and environment are the first touchpoint between the user and my design.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

QZ : Have you met anything interesting?

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

QZ : I will first think of the designer's creative ideas, sigh how to achieve such a powerful.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

QZ : IDEO. I believe it.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

QZ : Naoto Fukasawa.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

QZ : Service Design Thinking

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

QZ : Standing on the shoulders of giants.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

QZ : Naoto Fukasawa.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

QZ : Thank you very much for the honor and affirmation given to me by A 'design, which makes me more confident and practical to do more innovative projects.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

QZ : I like black, Los Angeles, tomato omelette, summer, keeping two dogs and burberry.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

QZ : I make a plan for my daily work, and I feel satisfied and confident when I follow it. When there are setbacks, I will tell myself that it is normal to have setbacks. To acknowledge setbacks and look for lessons from failures, failures are also valuable experiences.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

QZ : I like painting and always enjoy novel experiences and beautiful things.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

QZ : Service design and technology are the development trend of social economy. After a thousand years, our life should be full of comfortable experience brought by science and technology products and services.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

QZ : We will continue to explore and learn in the design of this road, to provide the source of innovation.